CELTIC star Mikael Lustig admits he is devastated after being run ragged by Ronaldo and kicked when he was down by Kaka.

The Swedish full-back has endured the worst few days of his career after his hopes of making the World Cup finals and last 16 of the Champions League ended in tears.

Lustig was one of few Celtic stars to emerge with credit last night after they flopped at home to AC Milan, going down 3-0 for only their third defeat at Parkhead in 24 Champions League games.

The Hoops will now finish bottom of Group H for hellish after self-inflicted wounds contributed to their downfall against the Italian side, inspired by Brazilian playmaker Kaka.

Lustig’s luck is out after another Portuguese speaker, Real Madrid talisman Ronaldo, scored a hat-trick in Stockholm last week in the World Cup play-offs and ended his chances of playing in Brazil next summer.

Lustig said: “These two games have been big losses and of course you’re always looking to win. I think I played quite well but I had a real big dream about going to the World Cup. That’s over.

“I also know what it’s like to play in the last 16 of the Champions League. But now that’s over too. But you need to move on. Right now we are sad but we need to pick ourselves up for the game against Hearts on Sunday.”

Lustig revealed he will probably now bring forward an op on the hip injury that has been troubling him this season with Celtic out of Europe and points to the good at the top of the SPFL.

Celtic’s defending against Milan, strugglers in Serie A this season, was slipshod last night but it has been a reliable feature of their team in recent seasons and Lustig admits that makes the nature of the defeat even harder to take.

He added: “I don’t know why it went so wrong. I have the same feeling as when we played Juventus last year. We were well in the game and created chances. We haven’t conceded a goal at a set-play for almost two years but we did so tonight.

“We lost two from corners and the third came when we needed to go forward. Milan didn’t create so many chances but to win games you need to be good in your own box and be good in their box as well and we were not that today.”

Lustig admits the chance scorned by Virgil van Dijk two minutes into the second half was a turning point in the game as he lamented the absence of a penalty-box prowler who can make the difference at this level.

The Dutch defender, badly at fault for Kaka’s headed opener, blazed a volley against the keeper from only eight yards – and minutes later Milan went up the field and scored their second goal.

Lustig said: “The chance was a big moment. If we were able to get to 1-1 there right after half-time it would have been really important.

“We’ve been decent in every game in the group but you need that little bit extra. Compared to last year we’ve maybe made more chances but we have not scored goals.

“It’s a huge disappointment to be out. We always want to play in Europe. Every player wants to play in the Champions League or Europa League.”

Midfielder Charlie Mulgrew was also cursing the one that got away as he reflected on the first-half chance he scorned.

He has now called on his clubmates to put their disappointment behind them, clinch the title again, and return to the European stage they enjoy so much.

He said: “It’s disappointing, those were poor goals to lose. But we can still take positives from the competition, although it’s hard to talk about it now, it’s all still so fresh.

“We must focus and look forward and hopefully we’ll go on to win the league again and be back next season.

“We didn’t take our chances in the games against Milan. The game we created the least chances in we won against Ajax.

“In this competition if you don’t take your chances you’ll be punished and Milan were clinical. I had a chance in the first half and had I scored it might have been different.

“We need to get over this quickly. It will be hard going to Barcelona with nothing to play for but we’re Celtic – we’re playing for our places and pride and the fans will demand a good performance.”

Emilio Izaguirre is also targeting domestic success to try to make up for crashing out of Europe before Christmas.

The full-back, whose yellow card last night means he is suspended for Celtic’s final group game in Barcelona, said: “It’s hard for us just now. We don’t have any more European football so all we can do is try our best in the league and the Cup.

“It’s disappointing we lost two goals from corner kicks, Milan were very strong at set-pieces.

“Virgil had a great chance, Beram had one too and so did Charlie. It’s hard when you miss so many chances.

“I’m very sad as we had chances, not just tonight, but over all five games.”